A life’s journey can be shaped by a few forks in the road. Ennis Rhetta Jr. said his life took an important turn when he was accepted into Phillips Academy, one of Birmingham’s most challenging schools. There, Ennis found his passion in STEM studies, and it was reinforced after he was accepted to Ramsay IB High School. At Ramsay, he was selected for a mentorship program involving technical careers, where he shadowed architects and met project managers. By the time he graduated, he knew he wanted to be an engineer.
Ennis looked at several colleges, but he had his heart set on Auburn University – an option that was made possible by Birmingham Promise. Now in his junior year, Ennis sees Birmingham Promise as a key that not only allowed him to go to his choice of colleges, but also to get the full benefit of his time on campus.
Ennis grew up in a working-class family on Birmingham’s West Side. While an older sister graduated from college, his parents did not. Ennis knows how much his parents sacrificed to give him opportunities they didn’t have, and he knows how much college costs. He recalls seeing bills from Auburn before Birmingham Promise aid was applied. “You’re kind of overwhelmed about how much it really does cost to be here,” he said.
He doesn’t want his parents to feel that weight on their shoulders.
“My parents always told me they wanted better for me. But I don’t want to have to ask them to take out a loan so that I can go to college. I don’t want them to ever even see a bill,” he said. “Without Birmingham Promise, they’d try to find a way. But I would be making every decision based on what’s cost-effective, what makes the most sense, what can I do that would not create a burden.
“Knowing that Birmingham Promise has that cost covered, it allows me to experience college without the stress of what the cost is. You can perform better, and you’re able to do more and be more.”
In just one example, Ennis is participating in a co-op program with Brasfield & Gorrie, a giant Birmingham-based construction firm. The ongoing internship extends over three semesters, and while it’s providing invaluable experience, it’s a time commitment that will push back his college graduation date.
“Without Birmingham Promise, I don’t know that I would be able to afford to do that,” he said.
In addition to giving Ennis the freedom to soar, Birmingham Promise has also provided critical support at his lowest times.
“I don’t want to imply that I’ve passed every class with flying colors,” he said. “Those are the times when you need success coaches that tell you a failed class doesn’t mean you’re done. It doesn’t mean it’s over. College is a series of bumps and hurdles and challenges for you to overcome.”
Ennis said those cheerleaders can be the difference between starting college and actually getting a degree.
“I would tell students to believe in yourself but also believe in the people that’s believing in you. Because when life gets to you, and you start to worry and you start to doubt whether you’re where you need to be, you’ve got to have people around you who support you and who see your potential and who can help keep you on track to your goals,” he said. “That’s how you finish college. You think you can do college alone? You can’t.”
His parents taught him it takes a village to raise a child, and Ennis sees his experience with Birmingham Promise as an example of that. It also inspires him to rise to the challenge of helping the young people coming behind him.
Last year, Ennis joined a team of Birmingham Promise students from multiple campuses that put together an event called Stay Well/Stay Warm to talk to high school students about mental health and to distribute winter supplies for the community. Pulling the event together, and seeing the impact, made a lasting impression.
“It was just an invaluable experience,” he said.
While he hopes to have his own children someday, and he hopes that they will have an easier path because of his college experience, he also wants to do his part to ensure the same opportunities for other people’s children.
“I’ll always be grateful to Birmingham Promise, and I’m going to do my best to give back in my capacity,” he said. “It means a lot to me to know there’s a constant wave of kids that are out there who maybe have a story similar to mine, and who can benefit from this program.”
